Thousands of flags have been sold since the terrorist attacks of September 11 as Americans rushed to
show their national pride.
From homemade flag pins to flags hanging over porches and out
windows, every American is relearning an important civics lesson:
how to display the American flag.

To hang a flag in mourning, hoist the
flag to the peak of the pole for a moment
and then lower it to half-staff. When
lowering the flag, raise it to its peak
briefly before lowering it completely.Note:As of Sept. 23, the national time of mourning has officially ended and flags can be returned to full-staff.

Flying the flag alongside other flags

If the American
flag is flown with
other flags of
states or
localities, the
American flag
should always be
at the center and
highest point.

Hanging the flag on a wall

If you display
the flag against
a wall (like
hanging it flat
outside a
window), the
union or stars
should be on
the flag’s right
or the
observer’s left
side.

Flying the flag on your car

When the flag is displayed on a
car, the staff should be attached
to the right fender.

Wearing a flag pin

Flag pins should be
worn on the left
side of the body,
near the
heart.

Other things to remember

To display the flag over the middle of a street, it should be suspended
vertically with the union to the north in an east-west street or to the
east on a north-south street.

Never hang a flag with the union down, except as a signal of dire
distress or danger to life.

The flag should not touch anything beneath it, such as the ground,
water or floor.